Rama: EU more aware of the importance of the Western Balkans
Prime Minister Edi Rama declared from Brussels that the European Union is more aware of the importance of the Western Balkans. In a joint media conference, with Oliver Ropke, President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Vera Jourova, Delegated Vice-President of the European Commission of Values and Transparency …
The gambling bill is approved with 72 votes in favor
The gambling bill was approved this Thursday in the plenary session in the Assembly with 72 votes in favor and two abstentions. The MPs who abstained were Erion Braçe and Fatmir Xhafaj. Lulzim Basha was also present in the meeting with the group of deputies who support him. /abcnews.al […] …
US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, arrives in Tirana
The American Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has arrived in Tirana. The plane in which Blinken was traveling landed at the “Mother Teresa” airport at around 11:12. Blinken was hosted at the airport by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Igli Hasani. As part of this visit, measures have also been …
Ibrahim Lici, wanted for murder arrested in Turkey
Ibrahim Lici, was arrested in Turkey as Albania declared him wanted for ‘Murder’ committed in collaboration. He is accused for the murder of Endri Mustafa, in Shkoder 15 May 2021. According to the investigation of the prosecution, Lici was hiding in Turkey from months, but only now he could be …
Court leaves in Jail Altin Coku, suspected that forced a woman to suicide
Court in Tirana decided to leave in jail, Altin Coku, who is accused for causing the suicide of the 27-year-old woman, Sibela Abedini. The event happened few days ago in Kamza area of Tirana. The 39-year-old is suspected that published photos of the late Abedini, while they were in intimacy …
Blinken: I feel the warm atmosphere, the pyramid was rebuilt by the Albanian-American fund
US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, thanked the Albanians during the visit to the Pyramid of Tirana. He said that he feels the warm environment both outside and inside, stressing out that the pyramid was rebuilt by the Albanian-American fund. “Good afternoon to everyone, thank you for a wonderful welcome …
US Embassy welcomes Special Courts’ judges
The American Embassy to Tirana had a meeting this Wednesday with judges from the First Instance and Appellate Special Courts Against Corruption and Organized Crime. At the end of the meeting, the embassy underlined that USA are determined to support them, adding that serving with integrity is essential in the …
General Director of prisons resings
The General Director of Prisons, Admir Abrija, resigns. Journalist Ermal Vija reports that Abrija had requested his resignation for some time due to personal reasons, but only recently, it was accepted by the Minister of Justice, Ulsi Manja. Admir Abrija held this post since 2021. “For a while now, he …
Tirana, man arrested after chasing a woman for a year
A man was arrested by the police of Tirana this Wednesday after he chased for nearly a year a woman. The 27-year-old, with the initials R.I. resident of Maqellara, was stopped at ‘Elbasani’ street this morning. He was denounced by a 29-year-old woman for following her everywhere and not giving …
UAE President host Prime Minister of Albania
resident His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Excellency Edi Rama, Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania, discussed bilateral relations and ways to enhance ties, especially in fields that serve development in both countries, in addition to a number of regional and international issues of mutual …
Forty-one environmental organisations from 28 countries have called for a halt to the planned development by Jared Kushner of Albania’s Sazan island as a luxury resort, saying it threatens the valuable biodiversity of the area. Original post Here
Kosovo, Bulgaria and Turkey have signed the Board of Peace Charter, under Donald Trump’s auspices, but several other Balkan countries are still pondering whether to join the initiative. Original post Here
Balkan countries are continuing to sacrifice their remaining clean river stretches to development and pollution, a new assessment warns. Original post Here
The Bulgarian mystic’s doomy predictions continue to grab headlines in Albania and elsewhere – even though many seem fabricated and sometimes appear to serve Russian geopolitical narratives. Original post Here
Tirana, 21.01.2026 – Research on disability has increasingly moved into the centre of international scientific and policy discussions, reflecting broader debates about inclusion, quality of life and access to public space. Against this wider backdrop, the King Salman Center for Disability Research (KSCDR) has opened nominations for the 4th cycle of …
While Albania’s Edi Rama welcomed an invitation to join Donald Trump’s proposed Board of Peace, Croatia, Slovenia, Romania and Greece merely confirmed that they had received invitations. Original post Here
When the “Choo Choo” Train Never Came It begins with a scene that now feels almost surreal. In 2022, during a staged media event in Tirana, Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku enthusiastically explained to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that the Tirana–Durrës–Rinas railway would be completed by 2024. …
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
The United States has once again issued an unusually clear and public warning about the threat posed by Albanian organized crime groups and their links to Latin American drug cartels, framing the issue not only as a criminal challenge but as a direct risk to Albania’s national security and economic …
As the new year gets off to a cold start in the region, our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories takes a look at the high expectations and sobering realities of what 2026 holds in store. Original post Here